Dan was born in 1918, oldest of three children to Karl and Ruth Thomas. Active in track, baseball and basketball, he graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1936 and from Lincoln Memorial University in 1940. Adding a lifelong love of tennis to his other sports, Dan was later inducted into the LMU Athlete’s Hall of Fame. In 1941 Dan began at the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, Tenn.

In 1942, during a break in medical school, Dan worked as an “Aid Man” on the Al-Can Highway in the Yukon. When he graduated from medical school in 1945, he was transferred to the Navy and was stationed at Gallinger Hospital in Washington, D.C. From there, he was assigned to the destroyer USS Gregory.

Dan married Louise Baker on Oct. 4, 1946. They moved to Durham, N.C., to begin his residency at Duke University in 1947. In 1948, they came to Oak Ridge, Tenn., to work with Dr. Lewis Preston at the Children’s Clinic. He was called back to the Navy during the Korean War, assigned to the destroyer USS Okanagan. After discharge from the Navy, he returned to Oak Ridge for the rest of his life.

Dan practiced medicine for over 50 years in East Tennessee, initially as a pediatrician, later as general practitioner. One of the first civilian doctors to work in the “Secret City” after the war, he once said he knew every child in Oak Ridge seeing them for ailments ranging from minor illness, broken bones and all other diseases. Dan assisted in the establishment of Oak Ridge Hospital (serving as chief of staff for many years). He was widely loved and admired.

Dan coached Little League baseball for his four sons, and was team doctor for the Clinton High School Dragons football team during the '60s and '70s. During the 1960s, he was chairman of the Anderson County School Board. He taught Sunday School at Memorial United Methodist Church in Clinton for many years.

He retired from the Children’s Clinic in 1977, and then worked at K-25 in Oak Ridge and later at PEER Occupational, retiring for the last time in 2000.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Ruth Keen; many beloved nieces and nephews; his children, Dan Jr., Steve, Pat Sr., Ruth, Julie and Clay; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Dan loved his work, his family, and sports (not necessarily in that order), and we’ll miss him.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Athletic Excellence Fund at Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Pkwy, Harrogate, TN 37752, in care of Cindy Whitt; or to Memorial United Methodist Church, 323 N. Main St., Clinton, TN 37716, or to the charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Memorial United Methodist Church in Clinton. The funeral will follow with the Rev. Laurence Hesser officiating.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at Anderson Memorial Gardens.

Holley-Gamble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. You may sign Dan’s register online at www.holleygamblefh.com.